A bill to provide for a temporary increase in the public debt limit.
Public Law 97-2 · H.R. 1553 · 97th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Feb 7, 1981 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL-8)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Barber Conable
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 305 yea, 104 nay305–104
- SenateRecorded vote: 73 yea, 18 nay73–18
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase the temporary public debt limit by $585,000,000,000 until September 30, 1981.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 97th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 309 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
309 yea108 nay15 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(157)
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. George CrockettD-MI-13
- Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Harold WashingtonD-IL-1
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-16- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-15
- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Robert ShamanskyD-OH-12
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Buddy RoemerD-LA-4
- Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
Republicans who voted yea(151)
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Charles DoughertyR-PA-4
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
- Rep. James NelliganR-PA-11
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. John NapierR-SC-6
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-7
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
- Rep. James CoyneR-PA-8
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
- Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Edward WeberR-OH-9
- Rep. George WortleyR-NY-32
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. David MartinR-NY-30
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Cleveland BenedictR-WV-2
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-12
- Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-42- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. John LeBoutillierR-NY-6
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-18
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37
Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
- Rep. John WeberR-MN-6
- Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
- Rep. Albert SmithR-AL-6
- Rep. Wendell BaileyR-MO-8
- Rep. Thomas HartnettR-SC-1
- Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-10
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
- Rep. Hank BrownR-CO-4
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 7 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Ways and Means Committee · House · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Feb 7, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-2.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Feb 6, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 73-18. Record Vote No: 23.Senate roll call 23
- Feb 5, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 305 - 104 (Record Vote No: 10).House roll call 10
- FloorFloor · Considered by House Motion to Recommit Failed by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
- Feb 3, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Ways and Means Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Ways and Means Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.